DUBAI (Reuters) - Qatar is considering building one of the
world's largest solar power complexes to help meet demand,
which could increase four-fold over the next 30 years, the
Middle East Economic Digest (MEED) reported.

Gulf Arab states have about 30 percent of the world's oil
reserves and 8 percent of its gas, but an economic boom spurred
by record crude prices is driving demand for power and water so
rapidly that many are considering turning to alternative
energies including nuclear.

Qatar expects to add 16,260 megawatts of power to the
national grid between 2011 to 2036, almost four times current
capacity of 4,200 megawatts, the magazine said, citing Salah
Hamza, senior business development planner at Qatar General
Electricity & Water Corp (Kahramaa).

The solar complex would have capacity of 3,500 megawatts by
2013, Hamza said.

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"You can have up to 500 MW in one place," he said. "Then
you will need about seven sites because the total capacity
needed at that time is 3,500 MW," he said adding that solar
capacity could increase to 4,500 megawatts by 2036.

The government of Abu Dhabi is also planning to build a
solar power plant as part of its $15 billion proposals to
develop green energy.

Hamza said the solar complex was part of a wider plan that
could include construction of a nuclear power plant.